As overnight hotel prices continue to skyrocket, more travelers are taking note of the daycation as a great way to intimately explore an area in a short amount of time. With a not-too-far destination, the right attitude and a loosely planned itinerary, your day trip is sure to be a smashing success. Keep reading for some insights on how to maximize your next day trip.
Go Somewhere in Reach
Epic road trips are long, and well, epic. But for a day trip, put the allure of the open road aside and go somewhere where traveling to for a day actually makes sense. Distance guidelines should vary, but a good rule of thumb is to travel no longer than four or five hours away. Anything longer and you’ll likely not experience a full day in that destination. If you want to get a head start on a day trip, you could always leave the night before and enjoy a quick morning nap and shower using Hotels By Day early stay convenience.
Leave Early
It’s cliché, and probably evokes memories of dad herding the family along, clamoring about being 20 minutes behind schedule. However, leaving early for day trips, and really any kind of trip, is a no-brainer. The extra amount of sleep you think you need could be the difference between getting caught in morning rush hour traffic or just missing that train. Make a conservative departure plan, and aim to beat that by 30 minutes. This way if you’re running a little late in the morning, you’ll still be on schedule.
Plan a Loose Itinerary
Planning an itinerary is essential to a successful day trip, no matter how Type B you are. Having a loose set of activities to do, or places to check out with the appropriate information will make for an efficient day of covering ground. You should also screen shot your itinerary so you can refer back anytime regardless of cell signal. Check out the Convention and Visitors Bureau in the area you’re traveling to for a heads up on any local events going on. Foursquare comes in handy if you want some peer-submitted advice on the best places travelers have experienced in the past.
Carry Cash
You never know what unexpected fees will come your way. Whether it’s a gas station in a remote town only accepting cash or a costly tollbooth you didn’t know you were passing through. Carrying cash will ensure you’re prepared for any situation that comes your way, and will make staying within your budget easier, too.
Don’t Sweat the Little Stuff
If planning for a trip is the most important thing one can do for a successful experience, than not sweating about the little stuff along the way has to come in second. No trip goes off without a few bumps, and yours isn’t any different. So if you get pulled over for speeding, find a parking ticket on your car or realize you’re lost while exploring, embrace it! The attitude you carry during your daycation will manifest into the overall takeaway.
Bring a Portable Charger
It pays to be flexible while traveling. Even if you’re driving and can plug your charger into your car’s cigarette lighter, it still helps to have a portable option for when you’re (hopefully) off exploring away from your vehicle. This way you can use GPS, take pictures and use other battery-draining features without worrying about finding your way back to the car on a three percent battery.
Be Spontaneous
As we’ve said, you can’t sweat the small stuff. And no matter how much you planned to do, cross out a section of the day and simply just be. Walk down a street without any knowledge of what’s to come, ask a local for the best lunch spot within walking distance, find a park and people watch for an hour with a coffee. Deviating from the plan creates an excitement all in itself. At the end of your trip, you’ll be glad you strayed from the expected.
Learn more about HotelsByDay hotel partnerships here, email us at [email protected], or give us a call at +1.855.925.2530 today. Happy travels!
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